The great thing about the Eagle Point Railroad (EPRR) is that it
is primarily a bi-directional track and a very scenic mountain railroad.
You can see very little of the railroad from any location, which means you
simply can not see where other trains are operating around you. Movement
between passing sidings is controlled by the signal system. Engineers
activate the signal system when they want to enter a controlled block and
they cancel it as they leave the block. The signal system works so well
it has eliminated the need for a dispatcher on busy run days.

The EPRR signal system evolved from the basic two lamp system, first
known to be used by Clint Ensworth on his loop to loop Pittsburg Akron
and Western railroad starting in the late 1970's. A modification of that
two color lamp system is used by Bill Hays on his Michigan Central
railroad. This was later improved to include three color lamps for Dick
McCloy's Mill
Creek Central railroad and change to the low current LED's system, as
used on the EPRR. The LED system designed by Hank Roberts for the EPRR
is also used on at least two other railroads.

The signal maintainer and head of the signal department for the
railroad is Hank Roberts who has been with the railroad since 2000.
The rest of his crew consists of whoever he can draft to work with him
from time to time.

Hank, with a little extra help, has buried over a mile of conduit
along the tracks and through the woods over the past years.

Train Movement Signals

The primary signal system controls the blocks of track between passing
sidings and wye junction points. By 2007, there were 10 signaled blocks.
Block signals are added as new sections of track are completed.

Hank working on signal mast

Howard Warren assisting Hankon signaling a new branchline

Demonstration module

Hank gets into his work

Adding another signal button

Basic workings of signals

A little mist does not stop progress

Signal wire dispenser platform in use

Double signals at Morrison Junction crossover.

A pair of signal capture buttons, each controlling a different block
ahead. Here you select the block you will use and then as you move
forward, you also have an off-set groundthrow to control the turnout

Bill Hays helps out during visit

Steve Wassell helps with signalsat Kimball wye

Signal department's work area

Visitors and new engineers have an opportunity to learn how the signal
system functions with a demonstration module that is laid out to
represent a signaled block between two passing sidings. It has capture
and release buttons at both ends along with two signals to demonstrate
what happens when the system is used.

Occupancy Signals

The second type of signal is the occupancy signals. The primary use is
for the passenger station tracks to let operating trains know if there is
a clear track as the view is blocked when you approach the station. The
lights are mounted on a two track signal bridge and auto detect trains
anywhere in the station siding and change the signal from green to red.
Occupancy signals are also being tried on two of the mainline blocks as
a supplement to the signals.

Single lamp occupancy light next to standard signal

Two occupancy systems being tested on railroad.

Passenger station signal bridge to indicate occupied station tracks

Remote Turnout Control

On the EPRR, the signal department also installs and maintains the
motorized turnouts, which are located at major switch points to allow
engineers to throw the turnout as they approach from the point side. By
2007, 10 of the 120 turnouts on the railroad were motorized with several
additional turnouts scheduled to be motorized in the future.